The Expatriates

The Expatriates is a 2016 novel by Janice Y. K. Lee. The novel is set in the expatriate community of Hong Kong and follows the intertwined lives of three women: Margaret, Mercy, and Hilary. The women’s lives collide in unexpected and tragic ways, beginning with the loss of Margaret’s young son. The novel explores The Search for Identity and Belonging, The Complexities of Motherhood, and The Role of Forgiveness in Navigating Loss. Lee was born and raised in Hong Kong, and her upbringing informs the novel’s lush descriptions of the setting and culture. Her award-winning first novel, The Piano Teacher, was also set in Hong Kong. Director Lulu Wang recently adapted The Expatriates into a miniseries for Prime Video.

This guide references the 2016 Penguin Books e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and study guide feature depictions of child loss, kidnapping, abortion, and racism.

Plot Summary

The Expatriates follows three expat women living in Hong Kong: Margaret, Hilary, and Mercy. The novel opens with Mercy and Margaret both dealing with the aftereffects of a traumatic event a year earlier when Margaret, a wealthy housewife and mother of three, hired Mercy to watch her children on a family trip to Korea.